Louis van Gaal's side triumphed in the shootout, with substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul making two saves to set up a last-four meeting against Argentina.
The game started slowly as the Netherlands dominated possession, but were unable to break down the organised backline of Jorge Luis Pinto's side.
Van Gaal's side could have taken the lead in the 22nd minute when Memphis Depay found Robin van Persie in space inside the box, but his shot was well saved by Keylor Navas while Wesley Sneijder hit the rebound straight at the keeper.
The Oranje continued to press and Van Persie turned provided for Depay for their next opportunity as slided a through ball down the left, but the forward's shot was well saved by Navas with his feet.
Costa Rica began to grow into the half and forced a scramble in the Netherlands backline when Campbell knocked the ball into the six-yard box, but Bruno Martins Indi cleared the ball before Bryan Ruiz could pounce.
The Netherlands showed pace on the break and Arjen Robben managed to win a free kick that allowed Sneijder a chance to threaten the Costa Rica goal. The midfielder fired a curling effort from 30 yards at goal, but again Navas as there to deny him.
After the break, Van Gaal's men got on the front foot again as Robben knocked a free kick in the direction of Sneijder on the edge of the box, but he could only drill his shot over the bar.
Pinto's men responded with a chance of their own as Christian Bolanos lifted a ball into the box from a set piece towards the back post where Giancarlo Gonzalez attacked it, only to see his header go just over.
Sneijder continued to effect the game and he delivered an excellent cross from a free kick, which was met by Ron Vlaar but he could only direct his headed effort over the bar.
The Galatasaray midfielder was then presented with another opportunity as Robben was brought down right on the edge of the box by Gonzalez. The 30-year-old's free kick bent over the wall but clattered off the post and Costa Rica managed to scramble the ball to safety.
Van Gaal's side upped the pressure and somehow the ball didn't cross the line when Daley Blind hit a ball across the face of goal, which was missed by both Stefan de Vrij and Dirk Kuyt with only a touch needed to score.
The ball then fell to Van Persie at the back post who fired at goal, but Yeltsin Tejeda managed to deflect the ball onto the bar and then over in a miraculous escape in stoppage time.
The Netherlands began extra time in command and Vlaar came close to finding the net with a powerful header from a corner that Navas had to turn wide of the post.
Costa Rica were looking to provide a threat and they believed that they should have been awarded a penalty when Marco Urena appeared to be brought down by Vlaar inside the box, but the referee waved away their appeals.
As extra time wore on the Costa Ricans began to look the more likely to grab a winner and Bolanos did well to work some room inside the box, before seeing his effort deflected wide of the post.
They came even closer moments later when Urena drove into the area and fired in a low strike that was blocked by Jasper Cillessen.
The Netherlands almost grabbed the win late on when Sneijder cut in from the left and worked himself some room, before bending a strike onto the crossbar.
In the last minute of extra time, Netherlands manager Van Gaal brought goalkeeper Krul on for Cillessen, as the match headed towards a penalty shootout.
Costa Rica went first in the shootout and Borges gave them the lead with a low effort into the corner, before Van Persie levelled the scores with a composed strike.
Ruiz took his country's next penalty and saw his effort saved by Krul, allowing Robben to give the Netherlands the lead with his well-taken strike into the top corner.
Gonzalez scored with his penalty, before Sneijder kept up his side's perfect record in the shootout.
Bolanos and Kuyt then both fired home from the spot, as the Netherlands went 4-3 up in the tie.
Umana had to score to keep Costa Rica in the match, but his spot kick was tipped around the post by Krul as the Netherlands booked a clash against Argentina in the last four.
0 comments:
Post a Comment